Tamper-resistant actuator for a vehicle anti-theft feature
A tamper-resistant actuator includes a valid input, configured to deliver an input electrical current through a circuit. A high-pass filter is positioned within the circuit that degrades components of the input electrical current that are outside of a predefined current range. Components that are within the predefined current range define an output current. A transistor activates a switch when the output current from the high-pass filter is received by the transistor.
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The present invention generally relates to vehicle actuators, and more specifically, a vehicle actuator having a tamper-resistant portion that can act as an anti-theft feature within a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTampering and theft of vehicles is a consistent concern for vehicle manufacturers and vehicle owners. Anti-theft features are incorporated within vehicles that require certain unique identifiers or biometric indicators for allowing access to the vehicle, moving the vehicle out of a parked position, or starting the vehicle. These features can be mechanical actuators or circuit-operated digital features that are designed to prevent or at least deter tampering and theft of a vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the present invention, a tamper-resistant actuator includes a valid input, configured to deliver an input electrical current through a circuit. A high-pass filter is positioned within the circuit that degrades components of the input electrical current that are outside of a predefined current range. Components that are within the predefined current range define an output current. A transistor activates a switch when the output current from the high-pass filter is received by the transistor.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a tamper-resistant actuator includes a valid input, configured to deliver an input electrical current through a circuit. A transistor is configured to receive an output current that places the transistor in an activation state. A high-pass filter is located between the valid input and the transistor. The high-pass filter degrades at least a portion of the input electrical current. Portions of the input electrical current indicative of a predefined current range define the output current. A resistor of the high-pass filter directs the output current to the transistor.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a tamper-resistant circuit for an actuator includes a valid input, configured to provide an input electrical current. A high-pass filter is positioned to receive the input electrical current. A capacitor of the high-pass filter degrades components of the input electrical current that are outside of a predefined current range. Components of the input electrical current that are within the predefined current range define an output current. A resistor of the high-pass filter directs the output electrical current. A transistor receives the output current. The transistor activates a switch when the output current from the high-pass filter is received by the transistor. The switch is coupled to an actuator assembly.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
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Utilizing this tamper-resistant actuator 10, an individual attempting to tamper with a particular vehicle may attempt to utilize an external power source 16 to operate the respective actuator 34 associated with the tamper-resistant actuator 10. Such tampering has been known to be accomplished through the use of a battery or other similar external DC electrical source 16. Using the high-pass filter 22, this DC current 60 can be filtered, degraded or rejected, and prevented from operating the respective actuator 34. Only using an AC signal 12 that is a conforming component 26 within the predefined current range can be used to move through the high-pass filter 22 for operating the respective actuator 34. Such an AC signal 12 is configured to be provided only by components of the vehicle itself and not from outside sources external to the vehicle. Typically, AC signals 12 and other similar currents that are within the predefined current range are more difficult to reproduce. The self-commutating actuator provided with the tamper-resistant actuator 10 includes the switch 30, typically the transistor 32, and high-pass filter 22 that allows operation of the respective actuator 34 or rotation of a motor 84 in a particular direction only with the specific AC signal 12 that is within the predefined current range. As discussed above, the high-pass filter 22 degrades or otherwise rejects DC currents 60 and DC voltages that would otherwise operate the switch 30, if not for the presence of the high-pass filter 22.
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The tamper-resistant actuator 10 that incorporates the transistor 32 and high-pass filter 22 provides a compact mechanism for preventing a vehicle's externally available terminals from being powered. Such terminals may be associated with a motor 84, door locks, a transmission, a shift-by-wire mechanism, a park lock, or other similar externally accessible actuator.
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Utilizing conventional anti-theft techniques, unauthorized users of vehicles have been known to unplug certain actuators and power those actuators through the use of a battery or other external power source 16 that provides a DC current 60. Utilizing the tamper-resistant actuator 10 described above, such DC currents 60 would be rejected by the high-pass filter 22 and prevented from reaching the switch 30 and other components of the tamper-resistant actuator 10.
Utilizing the tamper-resistant actuator 10, a circuit-operated solution for preventing tampering and theft of vehicles is achieved. This tamper-resistant actuator 10 also provides a low-cost solution that can be incorporated in numerous components of the vehicle. These components can cooperate in combination to provide multiple levels of tamper-resistance and theft prevention for a vehicle.
According to various aspects of the device, the tamper-resistant actuator 10 described herein can be used within various vehicles as well as non-vehicle applications. Such applications can include, but are not limited to, personal vehicles, fleet vehicles, transport vehicles, mass-transit vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, security devices for residential, commercial and industrial structures, electrical equipment, computers and other similar electrically-operated devices that also have mechanical operating systems.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
Claims
1. A tamper-resistant actuator comprising:
- a valid input, configured to deliver an input electrical current through a circuit;
- a high-pass filter positioned within the circuit that degrades components of the input electrical current that are outside of a predefined current range, wherein components that are within the predefined current range define an output current; and
- a transistor switch that activates an actuator assembly when the output current from the high-pass filter is received by the transistor switch, wherein the predefined current range is partially defined as being an AC signal.
2. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 1, wherein the high-pass filter includes a capacitor and a resistor that regulate the output current to the transistor switch.
3. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 1, wherein the high-pass filter is incorporated within the actuator assembly for a vehicle.
4. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 2, wherein the high-pass filter includes the capacitor and the resistor placed in a series configuration.
5. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 1, wherein the predefined current range is a specific frequency of the AC signal.
6. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 5, wherein the transistor switch is operated to an actuating position only when the output current is the AC signal that is within the predefined current range.
7. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 1, wherein the transistor switch is a MOSFET transistor.
8. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 1, wherein the predefined current range is a specific frequency of the AC signal.
9. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 1, wherein the predefined current range is the AC signal having a voltage that is within one of a predetermined current range and a predetermined minimum voltage.
10. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly is a motor.
11. A tamper-resistant actuator comprising:
- a valid input, configured to deliver an input electrical current through a circuit;
- a transistor switch that is configured to receive an output current that places the transistor switch in an activation state;
- a high-pass filter located between the valid input and the transistor switch, wherein the high-pass filter degrades at least a portion of the input electrical current, and wherein portions of the input electrical current indicative of a predefined current range define the output current; and
- a resistor of the high-pass filter that directs the output current to the transistor switch, wherein the transistor switch in the activation state delivers an actuating current to an actuator assembly, and wherein the predefined current range is partially defined as being an AC signal.
12. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 11, wherein the high-pass filter includes a capacitor and the resistor that are placed in a series configuration and that regulate the output current to the transistor switch.
13. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 11, wherein the transistor switch is operated to an actuating position only when the output current is the AC signal that is within the predefined current range.
14. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 11, wherein the actuator assembly is part of a locking mechanism of a vehicle.
15. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 12, wherein the capacitor of the high-pass filter degrades at least a component of the input electrical current.
16. The tamper-resistant actuator of claim 11, wherein the actuator assembly is a motor.
17. A tamper-resistant circuit for an actuator, the tamper-resistant circuit comprising:
- a valid input, configured to provide an input electrical current;
- a high-pass filter positioned to receive the input electrical current, wherein a capacitor of the high-pass filter degrades components of the input electrical current that are outside of a predefined current range, wherein components of the input electrical current that are within the predefined current range define an output current;
- a resistor of the high-pass filter that directs the output current;
- a transistor switch that receives the output current;
- an actuator assembly, wherein the transistor switch activates the actuator assembly when the output current from the high-pass filter is received by the transistor switch, wherein the predefined current range is partially defined as being an AC signal.
18. The tamper-resistant circuit of claim 17, wherein the capacitor and the resistor are placed in a series configuration and regulate the output current to the transistor switch.
19. The tamper-resistant circuit of claim 17, wherein the capacitor of the high-pass filter performs degradation of the components of the input electrical current, and wherein the predefined current range is the AC signal having a voltage that has at least a predetermined minimum voltage.
20. The tamper-resistant circuit of claim 17, wherein the actuator assembly is a motor.
Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 13, 2021
Date of Patent: Feb 20, 2024
Patent Publication Number: 20230021856
Assignee: GHSP, Inc. (Holland, MI)
Inventors: Benjamin Cosimo Hunt (Grand Haven, MI), John Thomas Bagley (Grand Haven, MI)
Primary Examiner: Kenneth B Wells
Application Number: 17/785,475
International Classification: B60R 25/01 (20130101); H03K 5/125 (20060101); H03K 17/687 (20060101); B60R 25/00 (20130101);